Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-06
Wine Growers Conference.

After Rip Van nWinkle sleep of several
months, very successful and well.at-
tended meeting of the st. Helena WITH
cultural Club was held at Wine Growers
hall last Saturday. Hon. III. A. Pellet
presided. Among the many prominent
viueyardists present were the following:
H. w. Crabb, Seneca Ever, j. j. Nc
Intire, Charles Krug, Herbert Merriam.
Griffith Meredith, c. E. Smith, Charles
Thompson, Dim Zange, Louis Ziergibl.
w. B. Storey. A. Brun, w. F. Burke
and N. E. Rose.
In opening the meeting Mr.. Pellet said
that it had been long time since o
meeting had been held-it was partly
his fault as President and partly the
fault of others. In the summer he had
taken trip north for his health and
was gone several weeks; Immediately
after his return he had to attend the
extra session, and when that was over
winemakers were in the midst of the
vintage aud too busy to attend meetings.
Now the winemaking was over, he
thought it well to get together and ex-
change views regarding the quality of
wine made and the price likely to be OBJ
tanned. He urged the importance of
pushing viticulture bills in Congress and
pointed out the benefits the industry
would derive from the passage of spuri-
GUS wine and sweet wine bills. He said
that Mr.. .Wetmore was going to Washing-
ton again in the interests of these bills.
He referred to the five and Elk story
vineyards of New York City," where
wine in large quantity is made without
grapes. If this thing be not checked by
proper legislation it would cripple the
industry almost to death.
Mr.. Krug as one of the Viticultural
Commissioners, said that the Commis.
sion would use all of the money they had
to spare, probably in the neigAborhood
of $1,000, in this direction. To do this
q convention in the spring, thinking il
much more important to push these
bills through. The Importance of secur.
ing this legislation being generally con.
ceded by ell present, it was decided
that Napa county, as one the leading
wine counties in the State, should raise
some money to aid Wetmore in his work
1t was thought that at least $1,000 should
be raised in the county.
A lengthy discussion then ensued as
to the best means of raising and collect.
ing this money. It was thought that all
vineyardists, being equally interested,
should pay in proportion to the number
Of tons of grapes raised this year, &C.
oordingly Mr.. Ever offered the follow
ing resolution "Moved. that it is the
sense of this meeting that we raise funds
for prosecuting this viticultural legisla.
ton on o pro rata basis of tonnage OF
grages raised" Carried. After some
talk the rate was fixed at five cents per
ton. 1t should be understood that this
is not an arbitrary assessment, but the
meeting took it for granted that every
man who has vineyard is equally in.
terested 10 securing this legislation. and
they have merely fixed upon the five
cents per ton as sum that it would be
right for each one to pay. OF course II
any want to pay more they have the
privilege. It was decided to call q
rousing meeting Of vineyardists fol-
Saturday. December llth. for the pur'
pose of urgiag prompt action in the col
lecting and forwarding of this money.
just before adjourniDg the meeting